Chapter 302: A Friendly Visit

"You can, but that would just mean you are lying," Nia muttered dryly.

Orion released a sigh. "You know there’s a door, right? Why didn’t you guys knock?" he asked.

"That’s because Joren was too excited to do so. After hearing that Sophia was awake, he literally ran into the facility," Laia said.

"So... that means you didn’t knock," Orion told them.

"Yes," they told him.

"Come in," Sophia said. "I missed you guys."

"I missed you too," Joren said as he rushed to hug her.

He was holding a huge parchment in his hand.

Sophia released a sound as he hugged her.

Orion grumbled from where he was seated. "You do know I’m right here, right?" he asked Joren.

Joren immediately released Sophia. "Sorry, alpha Orion. But... I can hug you too if you want," Joren told him.

Orion rolled his eyes at the boy, then stood up.

"I’ll give you guys space to talk," he told them.

"Oh thank the goddess. I was already thinking about how we were going to tell her all the gossip we had in store with you in the room," Nia said.

"And I want to hug her too, but the way you just looked at Joren made me pause," Laia added, making Orion laugh.

"You can hug her, but be gentle. She’s still a bit hurt," he told them.

"Not that hurt that I can’t hug them. Now shoo away, you ogre," she told him, gesturing with her hands.

Orion released a breath of laughter but obeyed anyway.

He walked out of the room, and immediately he did, Cat, Nia, and Laia all hugged Sophia.

"Goddess! I missed you so much," Cat said with a sigh.

"Me too."

"I could not believe I went a week without speaking or seeing you," Nia said with a sigh.

Just then, Dren walked back in. "Oh thank the goddess he’s gone," Dren said, walking into the room. He pushed the other three off. "Let me hug my sister," he told them.

Sophia laughed. "Since when did we become siblings?" she asked him, even as she leaned in for a hug.

Dren chuckled. "Since the second or third or fourth time we met. Actually, I’m pretty sure it’s from the first time we met," he told her.

Sophia released him. "Did you grow taller?" she asked him.

"Don’t ask him that. He’ll say yes," Cat said with a laugh.

"I’m your brother too, right, Sophia?" Joren asked her. "Dren told me that he is the only one with the right to call you a sister."

Sophia turned to Dren, who just shrugged. "We have more history together than Joren and you do."

"But I’m the one who first realized that she and alpha Orion were together," Joren told him.

Dren rolled his eyes. "Here we go."

"Before you guys start arguing, can we all just sit?" Micah asked them.

Joren settled himself on Sophia’s bed, pushing the others away.

"How is he claiming the bed?" Dren asked in shock.

"Special treatment for the youngest," Sophia said with a laugh.

Joren gave Dren a smug smile.

Cat, who had left before, came back with extra chairs for the others while Joren started opening the parchment he had brought with him.

"My mom prepared this for you when she heard you were awake. She’s not the best cook, but she’s still a good cook," Joren told her.

"Wait, are you able to eat food?" Cat asked Sophia.

"Of course I am," Sophia told her. "And besides, I’ve been dying for some good food. The only thing I’ve eaten here is porridge."

Nia made a face. "That’s why I hate being stuck in the medical facility."

"You hate being stuck anywhere," Laia said with an eye roll.

"True."

Joren spread the cloth on the bed and started placing all the food one by one. Sophia adjusted so her leg dangled from the end of the bed as Joren placed the food.

There was a spread of different foods, each one carefully wrapped or tucked into small wooden containers.

Sophia laughed heartily. "Now I know why it was heavy and huge."

Joren grinned.

On the cloth were spiced venison pies, still warm enough for the crust to flake; honey-glazed root vegetables that smelled like roasted herbs; some soft flatbread rounds brushed lightly with garlic oil; a small pot of wild berry compote so deep purple it looked like ink; thin strips of smoked fish; a wedge of goat cheese with herbs; a bowl of sweet nut clusters; and a pouch of mead-soaked dried fruits, their scent sweet and sharp.

"Goddess above," Micah breathed. "Joren, is your mother accepting new children?"

"No," Joren replied proudly. "She said she doesn’t want more children."

"Even if we apply?" Dren asked. "If only my mother could cook like this. The only thing she’s good for is scolding me."

"And for good reason," Cat said, making the others laugh.

"She didn’t just prepare this for Sophia alone, right?" Nia said, trying to take a bite, making Joren glare at her.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I brought it for Sophia, and only if she says you can eat before you can," Joren told her.

"I thought you were only obsessed with alpha Orion. When did it extend to Sophia?" Laia asked with a groan.

"I’m pretty sure since he discovered that they are together," Micah muttered dryly.

"Wrong," Joren told them. "I’ve always liked Sophia. I just like alpha Orion more."

"That doesn’t make it better," Nia said with a laugh.

"Way to boost my ego," Sophia said, laughing too.

Sophia reached for a venison pie first. She then gestured for everyone to dig in, and they did only after she had taken a bite.

"Joren," Sophia said with a moan. "Your mother is such a good cook."

"I know, right?" Cat asked with a mouthful.

"Swallow before you speak. That’s just ew," Dren told Cat.

They ate in silence for a while before Sophia noticed the book in Nia’s hands.

"What’s that about? Are you reading a novel?" Sophia asked her.

Nia took a look, then quickly finished off the food she was eating, licking her hands as she did so.

"This is a record of everything you’ve missed. All the gossips are written in here," she said, a wide smile spreading across her face.